Anti-vibratory suspension for centrifugally drying washing machine



v. OBERMAJER 2,948,401

ANTI-VIBRATORY susmznsrou FOR CENTRIFUGALLY DRYING WASHING MACHINE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug.

Filed June 12, 1957 i INVENTOR WAD/MM aam/mjtk v. OBERM-AJER- 2,948,401

Aug. 9, 1960 ANTI-VIBRATORY SUSPENSION FOR CENTRIFUGALLY DRYING WASHINGMACHINE Filed June 12, 1957 v 2 Sheets-SheetZ /NVENTOK WAD/NI}? cam/M75?a, QM%% nited Filed June 12, 1957,'Sr. No. 665,226 Claims priority,application France June 12, 1956 7 Claims." (61310- 365) Washingmachinesare known, in which, after the actual washing, the cloth isdried by the rapid rotation of the tank containing the cloth. Now, thebulk of the cloth to'bedried -never-centered on the rotation axis of thetank; thence during centrifugation there is a stress of inertiacommensurate to the moving mass and to the distance between the centerof gravity of this mass and the rotation axis.

It is well known that, when this is the case, by and by as the rotationspeed of the tank increases, there arises a critical speed during whichdangerously wide oscillations can be attained.

Several arrangements have been proposed for ensuring passing withoutdifficulties of this critical speed. The present invention concerns anew and particularly simple way of achieving this end.

Object of the invention is an antivibratory suspension for centrifugallydrying washing machines, characterized in that the frame-work of thetank and the support of the machine are connected by means of threearms, angularly distributed on a circle at 120, and oscillatingvertically. The ends of these arms are fixed on the frame-work and onthe support with interposition of bearings, each bearing being formed ofelastic compressed and vulcanized rubber between two metallic cylinders,the two bearings of the same arm being set at 90 in respect of eachother.

The annexed drawing shows an example-with no restriction to just thisone-of the realization of the invention.

On this drawing:

Figure 1 is a schematical view, in vertical section, of a washingmachine perfected according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a view of the plan of the support of the machine, showingthe respective location of the oscillating arms.

Figure 3 is a view of one of the oscillating arms with its connectionsshown in sections.

As shown in Figure 1, the machine includes a unit comprising essentiallya tank 1-1', integral with the frame-work 2, and a second tank 3 insidethe first. This tank 3, immobile during the washing, can be made torotate rapidly for the drying by means of an electric motor 4, integralwith the frame-work 2. Owing to the shape of the tank 3, wideningtowards the top of the tank 3, the water, during drying, rises along thewall and, flowing out, falls into a ring-shaped tank, formed by the tank1 and a casing around the tank 3.

All the parts mounted on the frame-work 2 start oscillating during thedrying, and it is this oscillating movement which has to be opposed.

To this end the frame work 2 of the washing unit and the base or support5 are connected by means of the oscillating arms 7presumed to bethreeand distributed on a circle at 120 (Figure 2). The arms 7 areconnected at their opposite ends by bearing means, to be describedhereinafter, to the washing and centrifuging unit and base,respectively, and the length of rates Patent the armport-ionsinterniediate the bearings is such, and the horizontal spacingof the arms is such, that a useful space of substantial vertical andhorizontal extent is provided -in the midst of, or interiorly of, saidarms to accornm'odate', in spaced relationship with respect to the base5, a" vertically extending portion of the centrifuging sucli as. theelectric motor 4 and the support therefor; as iisgclearly illustrated inFigure 1.

According to Figure 3, each of these arms consists of a rigid rod '7,having at both ends the cylinders 8' and 9 with 1 their axesorientedhorizontally. inperpendicular directions;

The inside of each cylinder has been fitted under strong pressure with abearing consisting of two metallic ceaxial tubes' (19 and 20, 21 and 22)enclosing between them a compressed vulcanized rubber cylinder (10 and 11 ln th eflaxis of each bearingalso fitted by pressure a solid steel pin(12 and 13). Through the medium of this axis the rod 7 can be fixedelastically on the framework 2 of the tank and on the support 5 of themachine: for instance by means of straps (14 and 15) integrated, withbolts, one with the frame-work and the other with the support. The pins(12 and 13) are immobilized in respect of the straps by a hexagonalhead-piece 16, placed in a hole in the strap. The fixing of the axis iscompleted by means of two nuts 17 and 18. The axes of the pins 13 at theupper ends of the rods are oriented so as to point in a plurality ofdifferent directions and, accordingly, the pins in the lower ends of therods will also be pointed in a plurality of different directions butdisplaced with respect to the directions of pins 13.

Should the oscillations tend to make the rod '7 rotate about pin 12 inthe plane of Figure 3 with respect to the support 5, a torsion stress isopposed by the rubber 10 and a flexion stress by the rubber 11, elasticstresses both.

If the rod 7 tends to move about pin 13 perpendicularly to the plane ofthe figure, then it is the rubber 11 which opposes an elastic torsionresistance, and the rubber 10 the flexion stress.

In order to realize a system of elastic suspension meeting the aim, therubber must have a compression grade well defined by the masses movedduring drying, which compression grade can be experimentallyestablished.

The arms 7 are located at spaced points around the axis of rotation ofthe centrifuging unit and in spaced relationship with respect thereto.The arms 7 and the structures at their respective ends are soconstructed and arranged as to provide generally the same resistance ateach arm against displacement of the centrifuging unit in the directionradially from its rotational axis.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for treating textiles with liquid, a base, acentrifuging unit for drying the textiles, said unit including a memberrotatable about a vertical axis and carrying said textiles duringcentrifugal extraction of liquid therefrom and drive means connected tosaid member rotatably driving the latter, and anti-vibration means forsupporting said unit on said base, said supporting means comprising aplurality of vertically extending elongated arms and resilient bearingmeans at opposite ends of each arm connecting said ends respectively tosaid base and to said unit, the bearing means for each respective armbeing spaced one above the other by an elongated intermediate portion ofthe arm, the length of said arms being such, and the arms being spacedhorizontally to such an extent, that a useful space of substantialvertical and horizontal extent is provided in the midst of said arms,which space accommodates a vertically extending portion of the structureof said centrifuging unit in spaced relationship with respect to saidbase, each said bearing means comprising inner and outer coaxial membersand elastic material compressed therebetween, the respective axes ofsaid members at opposite ends of each arm being oriented at 90 relativeto each other, the axes of said members at the upper ends of said armsbeing directed in a plurality of different directions one of saidmembers of each said bearing means being secured to said arm and theother member being secured to a respective one of said base and saidunit, said elastic material being subject to torsional and flexingstresses during oscillatory movement of said unit relative to said base,said centrifuging unit being displaceable transversely of said verticalaxis due to unbalanced forces occurring thereon during centrifugingoperation; said arms being located at spaced points around said axis andat a substantial distance therefrom and being so constructed andarranged as to provide at each arm generally the same resistance todisplacement of the centrifuging unit in the direction radially fromsaid axis.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said arms are symmetricallydisposed about a central vertical axis of said machine.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said arms are distributedaround a circle at 120 intervals.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said axes are horizontal.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said arms are connected attheir upper ends to said unit and at their lower ends to said base.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said inner members aretubular and secured to one of said base and said unit by means includinga pin extending therethrough.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said members are metalcylinders.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,753,722 Schaum Apr. 8, 1930 2,393,141 Butterfield Jan. 15, 1946FOREIGN PATENTS 702,229 France Ian. 19, 1931

